Important Information:Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

I was going to put this on one of the blog sections, but I think this issue is important enough for its own page. This explains the reason why this site is called "We Need To Talk About Mental Health."

Many people use the terms "mental health" and "mental illness" interchangeably. That is not an accurate way to refer to people who suffer from these diseases. This is not an accurate way to refer to people who are just stressed out and don't have a disease.

Mental Health is about WAY more than just mental illness. Mental illnesses are mental health problems. However, people who experience mental health issues may just need temporary treatment. Many people have bad episodes and recover.

As my wonderful therapist, Jane Wesley, says:"People spend a great deal of time and money on healthy foods, gym memberships, workout gear and personal trainers. How much time and energy is spent on good mental health? Mental illness is biological. Just like physical illness. Mental health must be nurtured and attended to. Just like physical health. How 'toned' are our coping skills? How do you manage anger? Disappointment? Love? Time? Where do we work on those things?"

​Mental health encompasses many aspects of your life. It is our cognitive and emotional well being. It affects your relationships, your work, and even your physical health. It includes your ability to balance your work with your life. It is the coping skills you use to deal with stress.

According to MediLexicon, the definition of mental health is:"...emotional, behavioral, and social maturity or normality; the absence of a mental or behavioral disorder; a state of psychological well-being in which one has achieved a satisfactory integration of one's instinctual drives acceptable to both oneself and one's social milieu; an appropriate balance of love, work, and leisure pursuits."

Mental illnesses are chronic mental problems that have to be diagnosed by a professional. They include things such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and many others. Around 57.7 million people in the United States suffer from mental illnesses in a given year.

This may seem like a nit-picky thing, but these terms are important. We need to change the conversation surrounding mental health and mental illnesses. Getting these terms correct is a big part of that.